21 of the 451 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Stratus are about the steering — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 131,000 miles.
21
Complaints
1
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STEERING
NOTICE A SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING OPEN THE HOOD FIRE PUT THE FIRE OUT NOTICE POWER HOSE HAD LEAK IN IT I FEEL DODGE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS MALFUNCTION
NHTSA complaint #11362702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE STRATUS. THE POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE HOSE WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE 2.4 LITER ENGINE HAD A LEAK DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
NHTSA complaint #10365923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
POWER STEERING HOSES DEVELOPED HOLES THROUGH THE WHOLE HOSE MASSIVE FLUID LOSS NOW POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FROZE AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 67 THOUSAND MILES FOR 97 YEAR 95 % OF MILES HIGHWAY ALSO A/C COMPRESSOR AND A/C DASH SWITCH BOTH NON WORKING WITH FULLY CHARGED COMPRESSOR AND ALL RELAYS AND FUSES REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10231968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
MY DODGE STRATUS HAD AM ENGINE FIRE ON 12-10-2006 AS I WALKED AWAY FROM THE CAR AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 20-25 MILES TO MY DESTINATION . A MAN RAN UP AND ASKED ME IF THAT WAS MY CAR THAT WAS ON FIRE AS I TOOK A LOOK I IMMEDIATEALY CALLED THE FIRE DEPT AND THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH OUT ANY ONE BRING HURT.
NHTSA complaint #10183221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
POWER STEERING SUPPLY HOSE RUPTURED. FLUID DRIPPED ON TO EXHAUST AND CAUSED A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10104239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
1997 DODGE STRATUS 2.0 SOHC MOTOR, BLOWN HEAD GASKET, BROKEN POWER STEERING PUMP, EGR VALVE STOPPED WORKING, LEAKS ALOT OF OIL OUT OF CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, HEATER CORE RUPTURED, HEATER HOSE RUPTURED ALSO, OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT STOPPED WORKING .
NHTSA complaint #10050905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT RIGHT TIE ROD SNAPPED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ALL THAT DAY. IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE UNTIL LATER ON. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO BACK UP BUT DIDN'T HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE FRONT END. VEHICLE WAS TOWED FOR REPAIRS THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
NHTSA complaint #10029390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
ABS BRAKE SYSTEM BROKE AT ABOUT 13000 MILES. OLYMPIC DODGE SAYS THAT I MUST REPLACE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SPINDLES. THAT THEY ARE CRACKED. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER ON 07/10/2002. THEY HAVE ORDERED THE PARTS WHICH COST OVER $300.00. HOW CAN 2 SPINDLES FAIL AT THE SAME TIME. HOW CAN THEY FAIL WITH ONLY 13000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.
NHTSA complaint #764160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE BACKING OUT TIE ROD END FELL APART, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #8010652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH REAR KNUCLE BROKE AND CAUSED RIGHT REAR WHEEL TO TURN UNDER AND FORCE VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL INTO A DITCH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8008415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
THE POWER STEERING HOSE (PART NUMBER # 4764-347A / 0777C/ 25517 DF 3251 3/8" ID # 03067F1) IS LOCATED BEHIND THE CYLINDER BLOCK AND RUNS ALONG THE TOP OF IT FROM THE PUMP( LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE'S MOTOR) TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE DOWN TO THE RACK & PINION. BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE HOSE WHEN IT RUPTURS/LEAKS ONTO THE EXHUST PIPE/MANIFOLD AND IGNITES THE POWER STEERING FLUID STARTING A FIRE. THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED SO THAT IT IS PLACED LOWER OR AWAY FROM THE EXHUST PIPE/MAIFOLD.
NHTSA complaint #757031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
POWER STEERING WENT OUT (65 MPH ON CURVE HOSE CAME OFF, HEAD GASKET REPLACED, STEERING GEAR REPLACED, NEW RACK WAS INSTALLED, REPLACED UP-STREM OXGEN SENSOR, POWER STEERING LEAK, DEALER COULD NOT FIND LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #9003168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES
BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED BY RECALL #750. THE REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED AT THE DEALER AND PAID FOR BEFORE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED OF THE RECALL. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE $633.00 COST AND THE $49.95 PLUS 8% SALES TAX WITH NO LUCK. REQUEST WAS DENIED FOR THE REASON THAT "ALTHOUGH THE RECALLED PARTS FAILED THEY DIDN'T FAIL FOR THE RECALL REASON." CONSUMER WAS ALSO NOT GIVEN THE OLD PARTS FOR AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION. *AK DAIMLER CHRYSLER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT STATING THAT THIS CASE FELL INTO GENERAL MAINTENANCE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #750975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN MAKING TURNS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP. TIE ROD: INNER WAS CRACKED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #892590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL IS NOISY. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #785278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #785095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL HAS PROBLEMS WITH AIMING. WHEN DRIVING THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #851470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. ALSO, LOUD KNOCKING IN FRONT LEFT SIDE OF WHEEL DUE TO RACK PINON FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #838253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
THE MOVING STEERING SHAFT BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS EXPOSED. A CLAMP ON THE STEERING SHAFT CAUGHT THE FLOOR MAT AND MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD ALL STRATUS ARE MADE THIS WAY. THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS A SHIELD. IF CHRYSLER DOESN'T FIX THIS, I MAY SELL THE CAR. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS, INCLUDING TIMING BELTS/IGINITION KEY/ HEAD RESTS/BODY, ELECTRIC MIRRORS,ETC.. THIS MAY BE THE LAST STRAW. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER WITH 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND I HAVE WORKED ON CARS SINCE GRADE SCHOOL. A DESIGN FLAW LIKE THIS BORDERS ON CRIMINAL!!! IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THIS DESIGN, I WOULD BE GLAD TO TESTIFY. IT WOULD BE AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE!!! I WOULD APPRECIATE A REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE IF POSSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #703376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS CONTAMINATED WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND MAY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #833120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SERVICE BULLETIN PROBLEM WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING LINE CAUSING NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #542984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.